Electonic display will not change on a Siemens... (by 4 users)

Our Saeco Magic Comfort Plus was showing the 'ventilate' message. I descaled the machine a few days earlier and thought that loosened lime scale was blocking water flow. The grinder was working, grounds were damp, but no coffee. The steam knob and the water push button produced water at first, but then that stopped too.
I took the brew group out. After unscrewing 2 small Phillips screws, I removed the piece of plastic at the top with the thin bent pipe. I turned the brew group upside down and a cone shaped spring and a tiny glass ball fell out. I replaced the spring (narrow part down) and reattached the plate with the thin pipe. When I tried the machine again, it still did not work. I left it alone for a day. The next day I tried again, ran a little water through the steam knob and a little through the water push button. Then brewed coffee and it worked.
I called Saeco and asked about the glass ball, which seemed to me was blocking the water. They said the ball belongs there and they will send me a new one. Maybe it shifted position where it was blocking the water. I'm puzzled, but at least the machine is working. I agree with other Saeco users that the manual leaves a lot to be desired, not what I expect from a company with the Saeco name.